Industry News 04.04.22

2022-04-04

France reopens to unvaccinated UK travellers
The UK has been placed on France’s “green list,” meaning that unvaccinated travellers no longer need a compelling reason to enter the country from 31 March.  Unvaccinated travellers from the UK continue to be required to present a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours before arrival (48 hours for an antigen test).   For more information, click here.

KLM announces air-rail connections
From 17 July KLM will block seats on a number of Thalys high-speed trains connecting Brussels Midi with Schiphol. But passengers would still be able to take the Thalys (departure) of their choice.  KLM passengers will be able to check-in their luggage at Brussels Midi and obtain boarding passes both for Thalys and their KLM flights. More information is available by clicking here.

US airlines urge Biden to drop remaining Covid travel restrictions
Industry lobbying group Airlines for America (A4A) – which counts carriers including AA, Delta, Jetblue, Southwest and United among its members – has written a letter to US president Joe Biden urging him to drop Covid-era travel restrictions.  A4A asked Biden to remove pre-departure testing requirements and the mandatory wearing of face masks inflight, stating that the measures “are no longer aligned with the realities of the current epidemiological environment”.

UK boosts funding of green aerospace projects
The UK’s government’s sustainable aviation programme is to receive £685 million over the next three years – an increase of 50 per cent on the previous round of funding.  The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme, which started in 2013, supports the development of new zero-carbon and ultra-low-emission aircraft.

Gatwick reopens South Terminal as recovery gathers pace
London Gatwick has reopened its second terminal as the airport sees a significant increase in flights for the summer 2022 season.  The airport has been solely using the North Terminal for 21 months due to low passenger numbers during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the South Terminal went back into operation on Sunday 27 March.  Several carriers including British Airways, Wizz Air, Vueling, Ryanair, Aer Lingus and Norwegian are relocating their operations to the South Terminal.

Travel news as a glance:

  • Cathay Pacific resumes UK-Hong Kong flights as ban is lifted
  • Eurostar-Thalys merger given green light by European Commission
  • British Airways takes first delivery of Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Phillips 66
  • Manchester airport starts phased reopening of Terminal Three
  • Cathay Pacific plans world’s longest nonstop flight from New York JFK to Hong Kong (flight time between 16-17 hours)
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